Question:
Question about MVI and Calcium Citrate
I am pre-op and having some issues trying to get my MVI (Flintstones Complete), and Calcium Citrate in and wonder if anyone can give me some advice. I know the MVI and Calcium are supposed to be 2hrs apart (that's what my Nut told me), and that in itself is tricky, but when I add in all the Rx meds I take, I'm confused as to when to take what. I've spoken with my doctor, but still confused. Is there a place online that can tell me what meds are absorbed by the MVI and/or Calcium? Thanks, yall are great!! — Clumsybarbie (posted on March 17, 2009)
March 16, 2009
Flintstones are one of the poorest choices of vitamins--kiddie vitamins.
Take adult vitamins, at least twice a day. DO NOT take any iron supplement
(15% RDA or more) with your calcium citrate. Calcium citrate is the ONLY
type of calcium you should take. I use a liquid vitamin for my daily
vitamin supplement, which solves the larger number of pills post ops need
to take as supplements daily. I'm sure you'll get several responses on
Flinstones here. If you'd like more info on liquid vitamins and their
advantages, my profile story has more details. The one I take has a
pleasant flavor too--like apple cider. DAVE
— Dave Chambers
March 17, 2009
Ihad the same problem and my Dr. had me take my RX pills in the A.M. like I
always did and then start taking the vitamins and calcium every 2 hours,
and what I did was I bought me a timer and sat it for every 2 hours that
way I know I was taking everything I was suppose to, other wise I would get
busy and forget them and then I would be trying to play catch up. There are
some vitamins and calcium that you can buy on line from a bariactric site I
can't remember it off hand but I know I read it in the book before and
after weight lose surgery
— humper
March 17, 2009
Just take the vitamin before lunch and the calcium before lunch. Many
doctors recommend the Flintstone vitamins since they are easy to digest. I
used them for the first four months then began taking just regular vitamins
since swallowing them was no longer a problem.
I do have a hard time with the calcium now that I have to take six a day.
— trible
March 17, 2009
Here is a list of common vitamin/medication conflicts...But you should
always ask the pharmacist for a complete list of information for the meds
you are taking! Always ask them any questions or concerns you have as
that's what they are there for! :) Keeps them on their toes too!
http://www.uspharmacist.com/content/t/complementary_and_alternative_medicine/c/10439/
I take 2 Bariatric Advantage multivitamin chews daily that I order online
thru Vitalady (since I like to do all my odering in one place if possible
to save on shipping)...They are expensive but after all my research and run
in's with mal-nutrition,vit defs... This multi-vitamin gives me peace of
mind ...Can't pay too high a price for that! ...We need a high potency
multivitamin to prevent vit defs. I would use liquids like Dave does, but
they are so harsh on my pouch (stings and burns and sometrimes causes my
pouch to spasm...ouch) Plus I am always on the go...in and out of the house
and I need something that travels well (like in my pocket in a baggie) And
a big bottle of liquid vitamins doesn't quite travel well! I am on a
schedule for taking vits and if I miss a dose...I am playing catch up the
rest of the dang day...At the end of the day I just take whatever I can and
start over in the morning...It's a pain, but you have to do it! It's a part
of WLS Journey that involves health and longevity that continues long after
you lose your weight...The first year, most are just thinking about losing
weight...Well, when that is over, you have your health to take care
of...and that includes diet, exercise and popping vitamins all day long!
Vitamins become a chore! I HATE the routine...I am soooooo sick of the same
flavors all day long...But I do it because I know the consequences
intimately and taking a vitamin that is not a complete adult vitamin makes
NO sense to me what so ever...but then again...I was sick for 6 mos of
being anemic and malnourished so I KNOW how yucky that feels and how LUCKY
I didn't have permanent neurological damage like some do from vitamin
deficiencies! I did this surgery to be healthy above all else...Most people
will say they did too, but then insist that Children's vits are working
just fine (when they aren't even a year out yet!) UGH!
HEALTH...LONGEVITY! People ask all the time, how long do we have to live
after surgery? Longevity depends on HOW HEALTHY and well you take care of
yourself (and an angel on your shoulder on the highway! right?!) If you
take a childrens vitamin as an adult with malabsorptive issues...that's not
exactly being health conscious...Getting yearly labs and keeping an eye on
your levels and knowing that vit def show up around 3-5 years post op IS
being responsible for your health. Be prepared to move onto something more
adult as well...Studies show 75% of RNYers experience some or many
defiencienies by year 5...and that included those following the vitamin
regimen exactly as doc ordered! 75%!!! HELLO!!! That's most of us people!
Those that don't experience it are probably on an excellent vit
regimen...or are super lucky...I'm not that special...Why take a chance?
You have surgery to get healthy...they WHY wouldn't you want to STAY
healthy? I will say this though...Flintstones uses better forms of the fat
soluble vitamins than say Centrum chewables! But Trader Joes makes an
AWESOME High Potency Adult Chewable that is almost comparable to the
Baratric Advantage for half the price...Differences are in the B
vits...where TJ's has less than BA ( B vits are water soluble and most are
easy for us to absorb in foods Not including B-12 as you know!) TJ's is
missing Vit K...which drives me insane! I wish I knew why! LOL But I have
not had any trouble with Vit K...although I do prefer it be in my multivit!
I still decided to use the TJ as an alternative flavor. Plus it has a small
dose of carbonyl iron that BA doesn't have! Otherwise it is very
comparable...
— .Anita R.
March 17, 2009
I did have a problem trying to space out my flinstones and calcium, so my
NP prescribed a prenatal vitamin for me that I only take once a day. It's
made it a lot easier to get that second dose of calcium in. Hope this
helps.
Tammy
— runningagain
March 18, 2009
first off let me start by saying LISTEN TO YOUR OWN DR -- take what YOUR dr
wants you to take -- secondly, you can take all of your meds to your
pharmacist and they will help you out on what interacts with another and
when to take what -- they are best qualified for these types of questions
-- good luck :) btw my surgeon has flintstones on his list of vitamins to
take along with pre-natal vitamins -- it all depends on YOU -- everyone
takes something different but only YOUR dr and YOU know YOU :) good luck
— RCassety
March 19, 2009
I take Tropical Oasis liquid multi-vitamin in morning and Liquid calcium
mag at night. I take my vit b around lunch. You can get them all at whole
foods. Don't taste bad.
— SharonZ
March 19, 2009
I've been told by my NUT and the bariatric counselor that Flintstones
doesn't offer all the "goodies" we need. It is the trace mnerals
and stuff we need from a multi. I use Centrun Silver CHEWABLE. I take my
multi and calcium citrate in the morning and extra Vit D. Before bed I take
my bari Iron and chewable vit C. That leaves lunch or mid afternoon for
everythingelse.
— JODI_13
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